# What the Shell vs Gugong

The clearest difference is review sentiment: What the Shell at 100% against Gugong's 0%. What the Shell also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (5.0 vs 1.8). Gugong's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

What the Shell is free to download; Gugong costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

What the Shell holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of What the Shell's written reviews are positive against 0% of Gugong's.

## The numbers

| Metric | What the Shell | Gugong |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-the-shell/id925447970/reviews)** | [1.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gugong/id6476454775/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | — |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 138 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | — |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chuck Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/290402113) | [ycyclop games](https://appshunter.io/developer/348818870) |

## What reviewers say

### What the Shell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-the-shell/id925447970)

Experience a unique twist on a classic board game where both players move simultaneously and secretly. Outwit your opponent by capturing pieces, hatching eggs, and strategically lining up five in a row. Enjoy face-to-face play, online matches, or offline challenges.

**Highlights:** Simultaneous secret moves, Piece capture mechanics, Egg hatching and capture, Local and online multiplayer, Offline AI opponent, Controller support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Gugong

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gugong/id6476454775)

Engage in a strategic board game set in 1570s China. Players represent powerful families vying for influence by exchanging gifts with officials, making strategic choices to outmaneuver opponents. Explore historical China, build the Great Wall, and seek an audience with the emperor.

**Highlights:** Historical setting in Ming Dynasty China, Strategic gift-exchange mechanics, Solo play against AI, Multiple difficulty levels, In-game tutorial, Full rulebook included

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is What the Shell free?

What the Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Gugong free?

Gugong costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, What the Shell or Gugong?

What the Shell is rated higher. What the Shell averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Gugong averages 1.8 from 4 ratings.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*